Canterbury Shopping and Districts

(Canterbury, Kent, England, UK)

Despite the fact that Canterbury is a relatively small city, there is a good selection of big-name department stores, high-street chains and plenty of other shopping options to be found around the centre. In recent years, Canterbury has invested many millions of pounds to improve its shopping facilities and this is clearly apparent, with the Whitefriars shopping precinct being a testament to this expenditure and especially popular.

There are many interesting specialist shops scattered all around central Canterbury and these are often found lining the many winding, cobbled side streets, alongside cafes, pubs and bars.

Opening Hours

In general, most shops in the Canterbury area open between the following hours.

• Monday to Wednesday - 09:00 to 17:30
• Thursday - 09:00 to 19:00 (late-night shopping)
• Friday - 09:00 to 17:30
• Saturday - 09:00 to 18:00
• Sunday - 11:00 to 16:30

Where to Shop

High Street is a good place to start your shopping trip in Canterbury and many familiar names can be found in this area, including the Fenwicks and Debenhams department stores. A prominent thoroughfare through the heart of the city, High Street leads on to The Parade, where you will find Burton, Fat Face, and many other stores, next to Longmarket Square.

Interconnecting streets include Guildhall Street, which leads to Canterbury's famous Winnie the Pooh shop, Mercery Lane and Burgate, home to the Old Buttermarket pub and also the Visitor Centre. To the west, St. Margaret's Street in lined with shopping opportunities and in turn leads to the Marlowe Arcade, with HMV, the Early Learning Centre, Miss Selfridge and many other shops. Rose Square is situated to one side of the arcade and is sandwiched between BHS and Marks and Spencer.

The modern Whitefriars shopping centre can also be found in this part of the city and boasts an excellent selection of places to spend your money. Costing around £140 million and opened in September 2005, Whitefriars is an open-air precinct and part of a renovated and expanding shopping complex, which also comprises the Clock Tower Square, Longmarket and the Marlowe Arcade.

Nearby, St. George's Street is close to the car park along Canterbury Lane and lies at the far end of the High Street, featuring plenty of opportunities for some serious shopping and retail therapy. The main shops in this part of the city include WHSmith and the Fenwick department store, close to the bus station.

Canterbury Farmers' Market - Canterbury, Kent, England, UK
For a more local flavour, consider a visit to the regular farmers' market, which take place Tuesday to Sunday at the Goods Shed along Station Road West.